Little Pink Starfish

“It’s just a case of exhaustion. There are no signs of anything physically wrong.”

Looking at Ryu Eunyul lying in bed, Madojin spoke.

“That’s a relief.”

Jeong Noeul nodded.

Just as I expected, he thought, gazing down at Ryu Eunyul.

…He was relieved.

The medical staff hadn’t found anything abnormal in Eunyul’s condition.

It was true he had pushed himself too hard over the past few days, so they concluded that overexertion was the cause of his collapse.

Eunyul had been moved to his room, hooked up to a nutritional IV, and was advised to rest for about a day.

Kim Jungho and Lee Hamin had been by his side until just recently before returning to their rooms.

“Dojin hyung… wait, no.”

Jeong Noeul shook his head.

“Dojin-ssi, maybe you should go back to your room too?”

“I’m fine.”

Madojin answered firmly.

Jeong Noeul had entered Eunyul’s room late at night.

So he’s been here this whole time…

Jeong Noeul glanced sideways at Madojin, who was sitting on a chair beside the bed, looking down at Eunyul with an unreadable expression.

Maybe Dojin hyung is a kinder person than he seems.

During practice, Madojin had always felt like an outsider within the team.

It was as if there were a solid wall between him and the others.

He was cooperative, but he never gave the impression he wanted to form deeper bonds.

At first, he gave off the vibe of that annoying rival character from a manga…

Jeong Noeul scratched his head.

But he was never actually annoying.

To Noeul, Madojin felt like someone whose thoughts were hard to read.

Not a bad person, probably…

Still, telling me not to call him hyung kinda hurt.

Well, I’m still gonna call him hyung in my head!

Jeong Noeul grinned.

At that moment, Madojin spoke.

“Jeong Noeul-ssi.”

Startled!

“Y-yes?!”

“I have a question.”

“Oh… what is it?”

Jeong Noeul smiled and dragged a chair over to sit next to him.

“Is fainting from overexertion not a serious matter?”

“Hmm…”

Jeong Noeul pursed his lips in thought.

“Isn’t it better that it was just that? I mean, it could’ve been something worse—like a chronic illness… or maybe Eunyul hyung has a rare constitution that reacts to Jeju’s magic… but it wasn’t.”

…It wasn’t like his body was affected by spirits or anything.

“So it’s fine as long as he didn’t die.”

“That’s… not exactly how I meant it… I just meant… he’s still breathing, so…”

“So as long as he’s breathing, that’s good?”

“Right! Or… maybe not?”

“But still, he’s breathing…”

“…Let’s just say that’s totally a good thing!”

Silence.

Madojin and Jeong Noeul looked at each other without a word.

Unable to bear the awkwardness, Jeong Noeul stood up first.

“Then I’ll get going! Dojin hyu—Dojin-ssi, please get some rest too! We have filming tomorrow…”

The performance was over, and tomorrow, they had to shoot interviews for the broadcast.

And I still have more spirits to help pass on…

With that thought, Noeul turned toward the door.

“Jeong Noeul-ssi.”

Madojin stopped him.

“Yes?”

Madojin stood and approached him.

“May I ask one more question?”

“Uh… sure.”

Madojin looked at him for a moment, then glanced back at Ryu Eunyul.

“I’ve heard overexertion is the result of excessive fatigue.”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“Fatigue refers to a state of physical and mental exhaustion, correct?”

“…Yes, that’s true.”

“I’ve also heard that when both the body and mind are strained, both can become ill.”

“Th-that’s the correct answer~!”

“Letting both body and mind become sick… is not a good thing, I’ve heard.”

“…Is this 20 Questions, Dojin hyung?”

“It’s Dojin-ssi, not hyung.”

“Correct…”

“Even so, is it really worth pushing yourself so hard in CYB just for a good result?”

Is it really necessary to work so hard that you collapse?

That was what Madojin wanted to ask.

“Well… maybe it’s because it was worth it that Eunyul hyung pushed himself to that point?”

Noeul gave his best answer.

“What about you, Dojin hyung? Do you think it’s not worth working that hard for a good result in CYB?”

“It’s Dojin-ssi. And for me…”

Madojin avoided Noeul’s sparkling gaze.

“…None of this matters at all.”

---

After Jeong Noeul left, Madojin looked back down at Ryu Eunyul.

At least… he’s breathing.

Soft breaths escaped from Eunyul.

They were barely audible.

You had to concentrate to hear them.

Is this tiny breath… really that important?

Madojin couldn’t understand.

If it stops, he dies. If it keeps going, he lives.

Is that all there is to life?

…I want to hear it a little more clearly.

He leaned closer to Eunyul’s face.

At that moment—

Boom!

The front door of Eunyul’s room blew open with an explosive bang.

Screws from the hinges flew in every direction, and the door crumpled to the floor like tissue paper.

“Guess I used too much force.”

The Star Hated by All clicked his tongue as he stepped into the room.

“What a flimsy door.”

Golden hair fluttered.

His eyes were tense.

Madojin stood up from the chair and faced the Star Hated by All.

“What’s this? A suspicious creature. Were you nursing him?”

With a scowl, the Star Hated by All approached Madojin.

“How is my creation doing?”

“They said it was just fainting due to overexertion.”

“Well, clueless humans wouldn’t be able to figure out more than that.”

He looked down at Eunyul.

Then picked up the Violin of Tainted Blood sitting on the shelf.

“Maybe it’s because he played this…”

The Star Hated by All stroked his chin.

Meanwhile, Madojin alternated glances between the ruined door and the intruder.

“…And you are?”

Madojin asked.

“I’m a shaman.”

“What is a shaman?”

“…He doesn’t get it, huh.”

The Star Hated by All muttered to himself, eyes wide, then after thinking for a moment—

“A shaman is Ryu Eunyul’s friend.”

“So that’s why you’re here.”

Madojin seemed to accept it.

“But you don’t open doors like that. You’re supposed to type in the code.”

“Ah, I see. My apologies.”

“It’s okay. I didn’t know either.”

Just then—

Crack.

“No, it’s not okay at all.”

Ryu Eunyul said, gripping Madojin’s wrist.

Madojin looked down in surprise.

Eunyul, frowning, was sitting up.

“The front door is wrecked. How is that okay, Madojin-ssi…?”

“Ah…”

A faint smile appeared on Madojin’s face.

“You’re awake, Eunyul-ssi.”

---

First, I needed to get my bearings.

I pressed a hand to my throbbing head.

“Our performance… how did it go?”

I asked Madojin.

“The audience was told your collapse was part of the performance. Of course, the contestants and judges knew otherwise…”

“…I see.”

I let out a sigh.

It felt like I’d made a huge mistake.

“Eunyul-ssi, you really should rest more.”

Madojin gently forced me back onto the bed.

“Yes, my creation. You should quietly sleep a bit longer.”

The Star Hated by All said with a mischievous smile.

“No, I’m okay…”

As I looked back and forth between Madojin and the Star Hated by All…

…What’s with this weird combination?

“The shaman is right. You should sleep, Eunyul-ssi.”

Did he just say “shaman”?

I glared at the Star Hated by All.

Did he seriously tell Madojin he’s a shaman?

“I’m really okay, Dojin-ssi. More importantly, this person…”

I forced a smile and figured I had to say something to explain his identity.

“He’s a shaman. That’s what I was told. He said he’s your friend…”

Madojin said, completely convinced.

I turned to stare blankly at the Star Hated by All.

He gave me a thumbs-up with a big grin.

…This actually worked?

No way.

“Shaman is my friend who lives in Jeju. It’s not his job, it’s his name—Kim Mudang. He’s got special skills, so that’s why he broke the door…”

As I tried desperately to explain, this fake Kim Mudang just got more and more ridiculous.

But Madojin simply nodded over and over.

“I’m relieved.”

He said with a satisfied expression.

“You shouldn’t be! I swear, if someone offers you candy and says ‘come with me,’ you’d probably go!”

I even forgot I was supposed to be hiding the truth and just yelled.

“Should I not be relieved?”

“Ah, no, it’s just…”

…Did this really work?

While I stood there dumbfounded, struggling to form words, Madojin stood up.

“Now that I’ve confirmed you’re awake, I’ll head back.”

I stared blankly as he walked through the doorway—with no actual door.

“Wait, Dojin-ssi.”

I called out.

He turned back to me.

“You were… taking care of me, weren’t you? Really… thank you.”

For a moment, he looked surprised.

“…It’s nothing.”

Then his expression vanished as he turned to leave.

“I’m glad you’re awake, my creation.”

After Madojin’s footsteps faded, the Star Hated by All placed a hand on my shoulder and smiled.

“Yeah… I guess I’m glad too…”

I looked at the crumpled, torn-off front door.

“You better fix that. Or I swear I’m buying an electric flyswatter.”

“Hmph. You think I’d be afraid of electricity?”

The Star Hated by All chuckled and twirled his finger.

Flash!

With a shimmer of light, the front door was instantly restored.

No more complaints to be had.

“Anyway…”

The Star Hated by All sat on the edge of the bed with a serious expression.

“What happened to you?”

“Ah… well…”

I told him everything.

About forcing myself to play the Violin of Tainted Blood, and meeting the residual will of Abrilah.

“I see.”

His reaction was strangely calm.

“No need to worry, my creation. The reason Abrilah’s energy disappeared from Hallasan is because the artifact holding most of his power faded away.”

“…An artifact?”

“The crown that proves his title as the Prince of the Otherworld. Its lifespan ended. It was practically his soul itself…”

“But Abrilah…”

…couldn’t be dead.

He had enough power to manifest a residual will from the memories of spirits.

He didn’t seem intent on invading the human world anymore. He even seemed… kind.

But that didn’t mean the problem was over.

“Hm.”

The Star Hated by All folded his arms and stared at me.

“My creation, I assure you. Abrilah is dead.”

“Really?”

“Of course. I don’t lie. Wait, no, I do. Quite often, actually. But I swear this isn’t one of those times. Abrilah is dead. However…”

“…However?”

“My definition of death may differ from yours.”

“That sounds… unsettling.”

“Perhaps.”

He placed a hand on my head.

I’d only seen the Star Hated by All in his fly form, so seeing him in his true appearance, with genuine emotion on his face, was strange.

…Especially since he was smiling gently.

A smile that looked somehow sorrowful.

“My creation, believe in me.”

He spoke softly.

“I came to this world to set everything right.”